Aim: Current diversity patterns in local communities result from historical and contemporary events that operate at distinct spatial and temporal scales. However, the contribution of local and large-scale processes in structuring species diversity remain a contentious topic in ecology. We investigated diversity patterns (species richness, composition and number of captures) of understorey bird assemblages in Amazonian unflooded (terra firme) forests. We sought to understand whether understorey bird assemblages in distinct areas of endemism show distinct patterns of diversity, and whether species replacements among areas of endemism occur while the proportion of species within guilds remains stable.Location: Amazonia. Taxon: Understorey birds.Methods: To investigate diversity patterns, we compiled studies that mist-netted birds at 11 regions across seven Amazonian areas of endemism. We used coveragebased rarefaction curves, non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) and created a heatmap based on the proportion of captures in each area of endemism to access patterns of richness, composition and captures of understorey birds, respectively. The relative variance (RVgp index) was calculated to investigate the existence of guild proportionality within each area of endemism.Results: Bird assemblages diverged across the seven areas of endemism, in terms of species richness, composition and captures. However, the proportion of species and individuals within guilds was similar among areas of endemism, indicating that species replacements across areas of endemism occur while maintaining the same ecological functions. Guild proportionality suggests that interspecific competition and resource availability are more important than environmental heterogeneity in structuring understorey bird assemblages. Main conclusions:The similar proportion of species within guilds suggest that interspecific competition and resource availability are more important than environmental heterogeneity in structuring local assemblages, possibly via a process of limiting | 325 BRAGA et Al.

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A free-ranging New Zealand fur seal (Actocephalus forsteri), considered a sub-adult male based on size, was observed and photographed on 15 July 2010 in the Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand, attacking a blue penguin (Eudyptula minor), likely an adult. While fur seals of various species are known to feed on penguins, most published data originate from dietary analyses rather than direct observations. New Zealand fur seals are rarely encountered within the Hauraki Gulf and while marine birds are considered to form a minor part of their diet, this record acts as the first documented observation of an attack on a blue penguin within this region and only the second published record within New Zealand waters involving these two species. The carcass of the penguin was not consumed but instead manipulated before being subsequently abandoned. Injuries sustained by the penguin were consistent with those inflicted by terrestrial mammalian carnivores considered important predators of blue penguin.